No
state in India can boast off the range of music Uttar Pradesh have. The
state has variety of Classical, semi-classical and Folk genres to
enthrall the visitors. In addition to that the state is home to some of
the most versatile and popular masters of this art form. Utter Pradesh
is the citadel of 'Purbaiya Ang' of Hindustani Classical Music. The
center of this unit has been Varanasi or Benaras for years. Starting with Eastern Uttar Pradesh one can easily conclude that this region has given birth to most of the folk music genres in the state. Birha is the most popular one among them. This is a mood-based genre where newly weds lament the separation from their husbands who travel to distant places to earn their livelihood. Chaiti is in contrast a month specific genre that is primarily sung in the month of Chait according to the Hindu calendar. The core theme of these songs is the amorous fight of a beloved with his lover. Kajari is also a season specific song genre that is mostly sung in monsoon. Here too, the theme is lament of separation but it is less sensuous in nature in comparison to Birha.
In the Awadh region, none is more popular than the Ghazal. It is basically a system of uniting various verses in a prescribed format of meter and weight. Thumari are another popular genre of this region. Though for years this music form was confined to royal courts, but when it came amidst masses it became unsurpassable in popularity. Qauwwali, or the poems of Sufis, has a pan-world presence. It is mostly sung on the tombs of Sufi saints and has a loud vocal that culminates to Trance at its crescendo. Marsiya on the other hand is sad in content and recitation. Popular among the Shia Muslims in Uttar Pradesh, Marsiya are the poetic description of the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad, and his comrades.
Rasiya is popular in the Braj region of Uttar Pradesh. The theme of this folk genre revolves predominantly around Lord Krishna's love for his consort Radha and other milkmaids. This is generally sung during the festival of Holi in Braj.
